Bladder cancer
People harboring the rs798766 variant of the TACC3 gene are more likely to develop bladder malignancy, particularly low-grade, low-stage bladder tumors with a high rate of recurrence. Refinement of a genome-wide association study using several European datasets resulted in identification of this risk allele. TACC3 regulates microtubule dynamics, and lies adjacent to FGFR3. Activating somatic mutations of the latter are present in about half of low-grade bladder tumors.
Bladder cancer
A meta-analysis conducted by researchers in China has shown virtual cystoscopy using CT to be superior to MRI-based virtual cystoscopy for detection of bladder malignancy. Pooling of data from more than 3,000 patients enrolled in one of 26 studies also revealed both types of virtual cystoscopy to be diagnostically superior to ultrasonography. Sensitivities were 0.939, 0.908 and 0.779 for CT, MRI and ultrasonography, respectively. Specificities were 0.981, 0.948 and 0.962.
Bladder cancer
Spillage of mitomycin C during intravesical treatment for bladder cancer is a hazard for medical personnel. A team based in Israel has experienced no accidental occupational exposures to the highly irritative solution since they began using a closed instillation system. The syringe is screwed to the connector, and the solution injected once the valve is directed to the patient's bladder. At the end of treatment, the valve is redirected to the collecting receptacle, and the solution and connector disposed of according to standard hazardous waste protocols.
Bladder cancer
With an incidence of almost 2%, venous thromboembolism is a significant predictor of death in the first 2 years after diagnosis of bladder cancer. This is the primary finding of a population-based study of almost 25,000 patients in California. Incidence was highest in the 6-month period immediately following tumor detection, and patients were 5 times more likely than those in the general population to develop venous thromboembolism. Malignancy-related surgery was associated with an increased risk of thromboembolism.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPERS
Kiemeney, L. A. et al. A sequence variant at 4p16.3 confers susceptibility to urinary bladder cancer. Nat. Genet. 42, 415–419 (2010)
Qu, X. et al. Comparison of virtual cystoscopy and ultrasonography for bladder cancer detection: a meta-analysis. Eur. J. Radiol. doi: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2010.04.003
Haifler, M. et al. Increasing medical staff safety by using a closed system for intravesical instillation of mitomycin C. Urology doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2010.02.058
Sandhu, R. et al. The incidence of venous thromboembolism and its effect on survival among patients with primary bladder cancer. Cancer 116, 2596–2603 (2010)
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In brief. Nat Rev Urol 7, 362 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrurol.2010.97
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrurol.2010.97